When a client returns four days after starting chemotherapy for colon cancer, what is the most important assessment for the nurse to perform?

The most important assessment for a client returning four days after starting chemotherapy for colon cancer is to measure the client's temperature. This is crucial because chemotherapy can lead to immunosuppression, making the patient more susceptible to infections. A fever can be an early indicator of neutropenic fever, a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from a low white blood cell count.

Timely identification of fever allows for prompt medical intervention, such as initiating antibiotics and further assessing the need for supportive care, thus protecting the client’s health.

While observing the skin, checking for signs of dehydration, and assessing the client’s appetite are all important assessments in a comprehensive evaluation of a client undergoing chemotherapy, monitoring temperature takes precedence due to the high risk of infection and the critical nature of managing febrile episodes effectively in these patients.